The Reef (Haifa) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I gotta be straight with you – the outlook for the next 16 days is a real tough one. We’re looking at a long, drawn-out run of poor surf conditions at The Reef (Haifa) – a beach and reef setup that’s normally got potential, but it just ain’t happening right now. The good news? There’s a little glimmer of something towards the very end, but you’ll have to be patient.

Right now, and for the first week and a half, the swell is tiny and weak. We’re talking waves around 1ft to 2ft, mostly from the west or west-northwest, with a short period of just 6 to 8 seconds. The combined energy is all below 100 – weak stuff (27, 26, 18, and so on). The wind is a real problem too, mostly cross or onshore, so it’s choppy and messy. The water’s sitting at 83°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – a nice little anomaly of 3°. But that’s about the only highlight.

It’s a real blank run. From Friday 10 July right through to Saturday 25 July, every single session is rated as “poor surf conditions.” The wind is almost always on it, coming from the west or northwest, and the swell is just too small and weak to do anything with. There’s no standouts here, no hidden gems. It’s a proper drought.

Now, as we push into the second week, the energy starts to tick up a tiny bit. By Monday 20 July afternoon, we see the combined energy hitting 131 – that’s moderate energy, but still only 4ft of swell at 7 seconds, with onshore wind. Not great. The best we get is on Saturday 25 July morning, with a combined energy of 157 (moderate) and 4ft swell from the west at 8 seconds, with a light cross-shore breeze. That’s the closest we get to something half-decent, but it’s still just “poor surf conditions.” The afternoon that same day hits 197 energy, but with a moderate cross-onshore wind and 4ft swell – still not clean.

If you’re desperate, Saturday 25 July morning is your best bet. It’s the most promising, which ain’t saying much. The swell is 4ft from the west, period 8 seconds, and the wind is light and cross-shore, so it’ll be the least choppy. But don’t get your hopes up – it’s inconsistent here, and the setup is a beach and reef, so short period swell like this doesn’t hold shape well. It’s more of a paddle-around than a surf session.

For the rest of the window, it’s a write-off. The waves are too small, the wind is wrong, and the energy is weak. This is pretty normal for the area when conditions are this flat – it’s a common blank run. I’d say save your energy, check back in a week, and hope the forecasts change. If you’re keen on the water regardless, the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing with that consistent cross-shore wind, but for paddle surfing, it’s a no-go.

Stay patient, and I’ll keep you posted.

Rusty

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